Vending-machine.



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VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATJON FILED APR-24 19w.

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VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24,19H.

1,236,827. Patented Aug. 14,1917.

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VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. .911.

1,236,827. Patented Aug. 14,1917.

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THOMAS JEFFERSON ELDER, OF HAMILTON, TEXAS.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application filed April 24, 1917. Serial No. 164,176.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. ELDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Hamilton and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is a vending machine intended primarily for use in vending liquids, such as oils.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide a coin released detent for the pump, second, to provide means for regulating the amount of liquid to be delivered from the pump, third, to provide coin locked movable parts and means for automatically releasing the coin to unlock the parts, and fourth, to provide adjustable means for automatically resetting the parts.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

One practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partly in section, of a vending machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, a portion of the coin chute and hop er being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a' detail perspective View of the pump rod detent and its releasing finger.

eferring to the drawings by numerals While the device may be constructed with several chutes to accommodate different sizes of coins, since the operative mechanism associated with each chute is exactly the same, only one chute with its operative mechanism is here shown.

A casing 1 is provided and forms a housing and support for the operative mechanism of the device. A slot 2 is formed at one point in the casing 1, and within this slot is secured a chute 3 which extends inwardly and downwardly therefrom. The chute 3 terminates above a hopper 4. A magnet 5 may be swung from an arm 6, which is suitably secured to the casing 1. The magnet hangs within the mouth of the hopper and serves to catch and hold iron or steel disks which might be inserted in the slot in place of coins.

An inclined coin receiving plate 7 is secured within the casing 1 and extends longitudinally therein, and underlies the hopper 4. A retaining plate 7 is spaced from and overlies the discharge end of plate 7. A slide 8 is mounted to reciprocate on the plate 7 on which it is slidably held by the overturned side edges of the plate 7 The slide 8 is formed with a bifurcated coin engaging end and is operatively engaged by a depending arm 9 of a horizontal shaft 10, which is journaled in and extends without the casing 1. A crank 11 is provided on the shaft 10, without the casing 1, and the crank is formed with an operating handle 12. The inner end of the coin receiving plate 7 rests on a support 13, which rises from the floor of the casing 1, and is bent downwardly and outwardly over the support to form a rest 14.

A horizontal shaft 15 extends transversely of the casing, and turning on this shaft is a toothed wheel 16 which is straddled or embraced by a yoke 17, which is pivotally moimted on the shaft 15. An offset, weighted portion 18 is formed on the end of one of the arms of the yoke for the purpose of returning the yoke to its normal position upon the rest 14. The cross piece of the yoke and a portion of the arms are slotted as indicated at 18. This slot is positioned to aline with the face of coin receiving plate 7, when the yoke is in normal position. A leaf spring 19 is secured to each arm of the yoke 17 and overlies the slot 18 thereof, for the purpose of retaining a coin in place therein.

A lever 20, is fulcrumed between its ends within the support 18 and is positioned with one end normally extending upwardly through a slot formed in the coin receiving plate 7. This slot is formed between the point of reception of the coin and rest 14 and is positioned to aline with the opening in the bifurcated end of the slide 8. To the other end of the lever 20 is pivoted one end of a link 21, which extends through the yoke 17 and beside the wheel 16 and has its other end pivotally secured to one of a pair of curved upstanding arms 22.

The arms 22 are pivoted on a pin 23 which is secured to the casing 1 and lie on each side of the wheel 16. A cross wall 2A connects the arms 22 adjacent their lower ends and below the pivot point. An aperture is provided in the cross wall 24 to allow the passage therethrough of a horizontally disposed rod 25, which extends longitudinally of the casing, and is slidably mounted in the support 13. The rod 25 is provided with a notch 26 into which the edge of the wall 24:, at the aperture, extends. The rod is normally held in its forward position by a compression spring 27 which surrounds the rod and which confined between the support 13 and a collar 28 which is formed on the rod 25.

A bracket 29 is secured to the casing 1, and is formed with horizontally disposed, vertically spaced arms 3030, which extend inwardly from the casing. The arms 30 are provided with alining apertures through which pass the upstanding arms of a yoke 31. A coiled spring 32 surrounds the yoke 31 at that portion between the arms 30, and thespring is seated on the lower arm 30 and contacts, at its upper end, a pin 33, or the like, secured to the yoke 31. The lower end of the yoke 31 embraces the rod 25 which rests against the under face of the lower bracket arm 30 and is adapted to take into a notch 3st, which is formed in the rod 25. An upstanding curved arm 35 is adjustably secured to the arms of yoke 31, at apoint above the bracket 29, and is secured thereto, when adjusted, by a thumb nut 36 which is threaded onv a stud 37. The stud 37 is secured to a curved clamping plate 38 which embraces the yoke 31, and the end of the stud passes through a suitable aperture formed in the arm 35. The upper end of the arm merges into a depending flattened portion 39, which terminates beside and spaced slightly from the periphery of the wheel 16, and extends between the upper ends of the arms 22 when these arms are in their normal position, A wheel 35 turning on a pin 36 which is secured to the casing 1, is positioned to contact the arm 35 and guide and support the same.

A horizontal shaft 4:0 is journaled within the casing 1 and extends transversely thereof. A pinion i1 is loosely mounted on the shaft a0 and this pinion is formed on one face with. one element of a clutch the other element, a2, of which is slidably mounted on the shaft 10, to which it is keyed in the usual manner. A coiled spring 43 surrounds the shaft 40 for the purpose of throwing the clutch member 42, and the spring is confined between the clutch member 4:2 and a gear wheel ia which is secured on the shaft 40. Another shaft i5 is journaded in the casing 1 and extends without the casing at one end. A crank A6 formed with a handle i7 is provided on the shaft 15 at the end extending without the casing. A pinion 4:8 is secured on the shaft 15 and is adapted to mesh with the gear wheel 1%.

A vertically disposed rod 49 is positioned within the casing 1 and extends downwardly through a suitable opening formed in the floor of the casing, and is mounted to reciprocate through a guide 50, which is supported in any suitable manner within the casing 1. The rod i9 may be the integral upper end of a pump rod, or it may be a separate rod adapted for attachment to a pump rod. A rack 51 is formed on one side of the rod A9 and with said rack the gear wheel 4st meshes. The rod a9 is provided, on the side opposite the rack, with a series of notches 52. A gavity actuated pawl 53, pivoted on a pin 54:, which is secured to and extends horizontally from a wall of the casing 1, normally engages a notch 52 to lock the rod 19 against movement. The pawl 53 is preferably formed with a laterally extending finger 55 which is positioned to be struck by a finger 56 which is secured to and extends laterally from the rod 25.

A gravity actuated pawl 57 is pivotally mounted on the pin 23 and lies between the curved arms 2 This pawl engages the teeth of the wheel 16 and locks the wheel against motion in one direction.

Secured Within the casing 1, adjacent, and partially overlying the curved arm 35, is an inclined chute 58 which merges, at its lower end, into a substantially vertical de pending portion 59. The portion 59 is formed with overturned edges to provide a coin retaining slide. A resilientmember 60 is secured to the casing 1 and is formed with an angled arm 61, positioned to overlie the member 59; The arm 61 terminates in an angled end 62 which normally extends through an aperture formed in the portion 51. A coin slot 63 may be provided in the floor of the casing 1 immediately below the portion 59, while a sight slot opening 61 may be formed in the end of the casing 1 contiguous the point at which the arm 61 overlies the portion 59.

In practice, the device is operated as follows :The parts are set as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. A coin is inserted in the slot 2 and gravitates down the chute 3 and into the receiving hopper i, from which it is discharged on the receiving plate 7, upon which it rests between the ends of slide 8 and the upstanding end of lever 20. The shaft 10 is then rotated through its crank 11. This throws the arm 9 inwardly which carries with it the slide 8. The bifurcated end of slide 8 contacts the coin and forces it against the end of lever 20 and under the retaining plate 7. The retaining plate 7 keeps the coin from being upset by the forces acting on it. The pressure of the coin throws the lever 20 and, through link 21,

throws the curved arms 22. This throw of the arms 22 upon their pivot 23 will cause the lower end of the arms to swing rearwardly and carry the rod 25 with it. When the rod 25 is carried rearwardly the notch 34 will come within the yoke 31, which will immediately spring into place therein under the action of the spring 32, and lock the rod against forward movement. This rearward motion of the rod 25 will also cause the finger 56 to contact the finger 55 and lift the pawl 53 from engagement with the notches 52.

At the same time, the coin has been forced into the slot 18 of the yoke 17 and its edge seated in the notch between, two teeth of the wheel 16. This locks the yoke 17 to the wheel. The handle 47 may now be grasped and the shaft a5 oscillated back and forth to reciprocate the rod 49. As will be observed by referring particularly to Fig. 3, this oscillation of the shaft 45 causes oscillation, through the pinion 18 and gear wheel of the shaft 40. The oscillation of the shaft 40' will impart motion to the wheel 16, through the pinion ll, in only one direction, because of the spring thrown clutch. In rotating, the wheel 16 will carry with it the yoke 17, because of the locking coin. Reciprocation of the rod 49 may then be carried on until the wheel 16 has rotated a sufficient distance to allow the coin to come in contact with the depending end 39 of the arm 35.

Pressure exerted by the coin on the end of arm 35 will force the arm downwardly and with it the yoke 31. This will unseat the end of the yoke from the notch 34 and release the rod 25, which will be forced forwardly under the action of the spring 27.

This forward motion of the rod 25 will cause a forward throw of the lower ends of arms 22, and a rearward and upward throw of their upper ends. This will bring the upper ends of the arms 22, which extend within the yoke 17, into violent contact with the coin and throw it from the slot 18. The coin will be thrown up and will gravitate into the chute 58, from which it will pass into the portion 59, in which it will be retained by the arm 61 and its bent end 62. The coin, in this position, may be viewed through the opening 64:.

At the same time the forward motion of the rod 25, has drawn the finger 56 from its contact with the finger 55, and allowed the pawl 53 to drop back to engage a notch.

52 and lock the rod 19 against reciprocation.

As will be readily understood, when the rod 25 is forced rearwardly by the insertion of another coin in the slot and actuation of the parts, it comes in contact with the resilient member 60 and moves the arm 61 and its bent end 62 to release the coin retained in the portion 59 and allow the same to drop through the discharge slot 63, below which a suitable receptacle may be provided for the reception of the coins.

It will also be observed that the arm 35 may be adjusted so as to regulate the point at which the coin will strike its end and so govern the amount of liquid dispensed.

Having described my invent-ion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a coin chute lead ing from the slot, a coin receiving plate, normally locked operating mechanism within the casing, means for sliding a coin along the receiving plate to unlock the parts, a-

yoke for retaining the parts in unlocked position, a revoluble element, means for looking the coin to such element, means for actuating the operating mechanism, coin contacted means for actuating the yoke to release the parts, and means for automatically relocking the mechanism.

2. A vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a coin chute leading from the slot, normally locked operating mechanism within the casing, a revoluble member, a yoke associated therewith, said yoke provided with a slot, means for actuating a coin to unlock the operating mechanism, and lock the yoke to the revoluble member, automatic means for retaining the mechanism in unlocked position, means for actuating the operating mechanism and re volving the revoluble member, a coin contacted member for unlocking the retaining means, and means for resetting the operating mechanism and expelling the coin.

3. A vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a chute leading from the slot, a coin rest below the chute, normally locked operating mechanism with in the casing, a slide reciprocating on the rest and operable to contact a coin to unlock the mechanism, means for actuating the slide, a crank for operating the mechanism, a detent for retaining the parts in unlocked position, coin contacted means for releasing the detent, means for expelling the coin, a chute for receiving the expelled coin, and means for retaining the coin in the chute.

4. A vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a coin chute leading from the slot, operative mechanism with in the casing including a revoluble member, a yoke associated with the revoluble mem ber, means for actuating a coin to lock the yoke to the revoluble member and set the mechanism, and coin contacted means for releasing the mechanism to expel the coin and unlock the yoke.

5. A vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a coin chute lead- 1-? ing from the slot, operative mechanism within the casing including a revoluble member, a yoke associated with the revoluble member, means for actuating a coin to set the mechanism and lock the yoke to the revoluble member, coin contacted means for releasing the mechanism to expel the coin and unlock the yoke, and means for resetting the yoke.

6. A Vending machine, comprising a casing provided with a slot, a coin chute leading from the slot, a revoluble member within the casing, a yoke associated therewith, means for actuating a coin to lock the yoke to the revoluble member, means for revolving the revoluble member and yoke, an arm in the path of the coin, and means released by the contact of the coin with the arm to expel the coin and lock the operating mechanism.

7. A vending machine, comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in the casing, a toothed wheel on the shaft, a yoke straddling the wheel and journaled on the shaft, said yoke provided with a slot, arms beside the wheel, means for forcing a coin into the slot to lock the yoke to the wheel, means actuated by the forcing of the coin toward the slot to draw the arms to position to enter the yoke, means for turning the wheel and yoke, and coin released means for returning the arms to normal position to expel the coin from the slot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JEFFERSON ELDER. lVitnesses:

H. K. PARKERSON, W. A. HAYNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

